Who's going to drop out first from our side? (No flaming, just predictions)

[Colobo]

Not only vote- try to give some estimate dates.

[gateley]

1. Gravel and it breaks my heart. I'll miss his tirades and good sense! nt

[saltpoint]

20. Gravel's durable goods. One big problem with the United States is that

too much of it wants to have a beer with George W. Bush and not nearly enough want to have a beer with Mike Gravel.

That would be the best value-added swig of brew in town.

[PatSeg]

27. I'd love to have a beer with Mike Gravel

He is a fascinating person, though I wouldn't want him in the White House. He gets so little credit for what he did for this country in the seventies as a senator. He had real guts and stamina, very rare in government.

[More Than A Feeling]

2. Biden will drop out the day after finishing fifth in Iowa

Behind Edwards, Obama, Dodd, and Hillary

[Colobo]

3. My prediction: Chris Dodd, After the Iowa Caucus.

[Ninga]

4. Let's defer this until December 20th. OK? Or at least until after the next debate

which is Oct. 30th.

Obama will be on his game, (feeling better)
Hillary will be in her general election campagin mindset
Edwards will try to break out
Dodd, Biden, Richardson will be senior statesmen

and we will know more about the candidates.

[Colobo]

5. We will do another poll by December. Just give it a shot now.

[Colobo]

6. Gravel and Dodd leading so far. Keep voting.

[napi21]

7. I read somewhere today that Dodd was pulling most of his staff

from Iowa. That's a bad sign. I'm sorry to hear it, but I really don't think Dodd has much of a following.

[Colobo]

8. Sad indeed, because Dodd is an excellent guy. He would be a great VP.

[gateley]

11. If it IS accurate, he could still be picked for VP, couldn't he? nt

[napi21]

17. Yes, but did you ever think about how many Senators we could lose

like this? Many people hae talked about Biden being a great Sec of State. Hillary could be the President. Now you want Dodd to be the VP? That's T
HREE Senators out of the Senate!!!! Can we as a party afford to do THAT?

[gateley]

24. God at this point we can't really even afford to lose one! Good point. nt

[gateley]

9. I thought his numbers were improving - and that he did well with Q3

contributions. Any idea why?

This is the crime of starting this so early, with such an uneven monetary playing field. It really saddens me. If this is true -- and of the others who will drop out -- it deprives the country of even seeing some excellent candidates who are qualified.

[jillan]

18. I hope not. I really like Dodd.

[Tejanocrat]

10. Richardson will drop out to win the election for Senator from New Mexico by at least 15%!

[Purveyor]

12. Or become the VP selection of Hillary and lock in the Hispanic vote... eom

[Tejanocrat]

13. I thought that he was on the short list, but I think he's campaigned so poorly that he crossed

himself off the VP list. If Hillary wins (which seems about 70% likely), I'm seeing a Clinton-Clark ticket.

Also, Richardson has been saying things about Hillary that will hamstring the ticket if played back if he were ever to be her VP.

Even more significant, Richardson is tied with the Bill Clinton administration. Hillary must sever all ties to the Bill Clinton administration to show that she's a step forward and not a step back to the '90s. This -- more than any other reason -- makes Richardson completely out of consideration for Hillary's VP.

[RaleighNCDUer]

16. "Hillary must sever all ties to the Bill Clinton administration..."

That will be a big disappointment for all the morons who think that voting for Hillary is = to voting for Bill.

How will THAT affect her odds?

[Tejanocrat]

26. It's all about triangulation -- move toward your opponent's position to capture the middle and your

disappointed supporters will still have no alternative but to support you as the better alternative to your opponent.

[Carrieyazel]

22. How as he campaigned poorly??? He's made some gaffes, but ALL the candidates have, including HRC.

In fact, his grass roots style of one-on-one campaigning is the best thing about him.
Hillary, on the other hand, doesn't do much actual campaigning at all, other than her tightly controlled "events" where she gives a stale speech in front of a bunch of people that already support her. And go to the required debates and forums like everybody else. Her VP pick will be somebody who's just as lame a candidate as she is, so obviously Richardson isn't on the list.

[Tejanocrat]

28. Here's a few examples:

Gov. Bill Richardson dropped a bomb in what was billed as the first gay debate on Thursday, saying of homosexuality, “It’s a choice,” which is for gays the equivalent of saying there was no Holocaust.

Tavis: It occurs to me now, listening to you talk about your friend who you know, Mr. Gonzalez, it draws a stark contrast between—I haven't checked where all the other candidates are, but I know Obama is on record very clearly saying Gonzalez should step down. I suspect other Democrats running for president are maybe saying the same thing. That's a contrast between you and others on whether or not this guy should step down.
Richardson: That's right. I do believe that it's up to a president to make those decisions about Cabinet members. Obviously, Alberto's very damaged, and he's gotta be frank and testify and do what has to happen. But I think that's up to the president.
Tavis: So you would not call for his stepping down right now.
Richardson: No, no. And you know what? Part of it maybe is because he's the highest-ranking Hispanic ever.

"Iowa, for good reason, for constitutional reasons, for reasons related to the Lord, should be the first caucus and primary."

Richardson closed his speech today in DC with this line: "Thank you AFSCME!" Unfortunately, he was addressing the SEIU.

"I came out as the most moderate candidate ..."

[Carrieyazel]

21. He's not interested in running for the Senate. That's not happening.

[Tejanocrat]

29. If there is a 1 in 100 chance, it's still more likely than his winning the nomination.

[silverojo]

14. Who the hell voted that Hillary would drop out at all?

It's one thing not to like her, but that's positively delusional.

As for the original question...I'm torn between Gravel and Dodd.

[Colobo]

15. I ask the same about those who voted that Obama will drop first.

[usregimechange]

19. Bill is heading for the Senate.

[Carrieyazel]

23. No, that isn't going to happen. The sorry Senate is not a place for Richardson at this stage.

He's already served in the House, and that was enough legislative experience for him.

[Colobo]

25. So most people agree with me... Dodd will probably leave first, maybe

even before the caucuses start.